Trap



Oct. 1l, 1932. c. l.. HANCOCK 1,881,530 TRAP Filed July 23, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 1l, 1932.

c. l.. HANCOCK 1,881,530

TRAP

Filed July 2s, 195o s sheets-sheet 2 .9 fig, 4. Je

INVENTORV .ancc

ATTORN EY C. L. HANCOCK 5 TRAP oct. 11,1932.

Filed July 25, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 www mm m m www? um ,2 9 ,d Z 4 ,M

WITNEssEs (3.13

Patented Oct. ll, 1932 `,UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE CHARLES LEON HANCOCK, F T'UTHILL, SOUTHV DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR TO ANIMAL TRAP COMPANY 0]? AMERICA, OF LITITVZ, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATON OF PENNSYL- VANIA TRAP ' A Application led July 23,

l Thisinventionrelates to improvements in traps for catching animals, birds, etc. aliveV and uninjur'ed, and it consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein r described and claimed.A`

An object'of the invention is to provide a trap having a hood in the nature of a chain mat or other flexible cover arranged to be thrown over an animal or bird Which has en- 10, tered to spring they trap.

*Another object of the invention is to provide' a trap structurally arranged to fit the physical contour or surroundings of the habivtation of ,the animal, aV particular feature 5a stationary -trap base, either originally fixed ofxthis arrangement in the present trap being or adjustable to desired stationary positions,

A'which' is vangledto fit the slope of a muslrrat hut, or river bank and thereby provide an elevated perch to whichthe animal can cling when the hood Vis sprung to the closed posi y tion,V A further object ofthe invention is to provide a trap in which the flexible cover or hood can be so disposed that the animal does not have to come in contact with it in enter- 4ing the trap, thus leaving the tread pan out in the open with nothing to arouse the animals suspicions.

A further object of the invention is to locate the tread pan slightly below the Water level along the line of'travel of the animal,

in line with the hood and close up to the base of the hut, thus insuring the presence of the animal entirely within the trap before it can be sprung.

' A further object of the invention is to pro vvide a pinning arrangement enabling setting thetrap vand properly holding it in the set v 'position in any ordinary depth of water.

trap in the set position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a trapV in which the trap structure is movable to an elevated position when sprung, thus to avoid drowning the captured animal; r

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is-a plan viewrof the improved 1930.V Serial No. 470,174.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating tlhe manner of pinning the trap to a muslrrat Figure 3 is a sectional View of the hut showing how practically everything is concealed from view by submersion in the water close up to the base of the hut and in the line of travel of the animals.

AFigure l is a perspective view illustrating the trap in the sprung position, most of the Wire netting of the trap base being omitted to avoid obscuring the trigger structure.

F igure-5 is a side elevation of the trap in the sprung and elevated position.

Figure 6 is a detail plan View of the interlocking elements of the trigger structure in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is 'a detail front elevation of the structureV in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view the line 8 8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 1.

The herein disclosed trap is described as being used for catching muslrrats, but this particular use is intended merely as one illustration because it can be employed to equally good advantage in trapping other animals with but little modification in its minor features.

The muslrrat to-day is being bred to an enormous extent in various parts of the country so that quite an industry has developed concerning it.'v One of the main objects in the development of this industry is the obtaining of its pelts which not only have a fair wearing quality, but can be put to a great variety of uses. It is a consideration taken on to catchthe animals alive, not only from the Vtrap in a fixed position.

, animalis actual-ly caughtgf'lhis comprises .30 amovable hood frame 10' and arelatively sta- The .trap comprises a stationary sub-base generally designa-ted*l 1 (Figs. 3. and 5).

VThis comprises a long` central vstake 2 Which is pointed at the end 3 (Figs. 2 and') so that it can readily be'thrustV into the side of a muskrat hut 4 A(Figs. Zandn 8),'V banlrof a river or. Wherever itis ydesiredto pin ythe To this end the pinning arrangement is not necessarilyconlinedto the central, hori- `z'ontal arrangement of the stake-2, since` this may extend olf at angles from other selected points on the trap With the same eiect. The sub-base comprises a frame oi which a U-l bar 5 V(Figs. 1 and 4) and a pair of cross bars 6,.,7"(.Fig. 4,) are Vparts;v f

f v The free ends-8 oftheU-.bar at the rear `of Vthe cross bar 7 areV intended to be thrustinto lthefhut 4 or to irest uponv suchconventionally locatedlnatural 'formation as Will stabilize rightside, romf which the animal custom-A arily'enters Vby svvimnnngin the `Water,v 1s known'asthe i'front.

A Vtrap structure, generally designated V9,

Fig. 5) is-thatpart of the trap by Whi'chthe tionary'trap basell.V The ramej'l() is piv.

I ote'd by lmeans of pin's12 upon ears 13, 14, theormer being bent :up i'rom the ends oiga kmedial bar 15 on the' baseri11,gto ,Whichhar the a-earsfiareisecuredi Thefbase 11 isfstationary relatively ,toV the frameglO.

In l.otherWords, the fraxne 10 is capable of being. opened and closed `in respect tothe vbase'fll, -vvvhen kclosed will hold .a Vchain ,matz'or other ieX1ble-cover 16 1n anencoinpassing position .over VYthe trapped animal.

`A Y Thexmovablehood-irame l() anditszlexible cover.y 16 are collectively known:as'tllegho'odgr f Respecting .said cover .165it. sholildv :be en 'j plained that the specicationY of a chain mat v isnottoibe regarded asa limitation, italieingpo'ssibleto form.: the hood :in some other collapsiblemanner. v ThebottomA oi theft-rap Y base VVllconsists .of Wire netting, network 1 or reticulated material vv17 or any desired elglu'ivav Anoset in bar1`5 V5) deines an angled backy stop or elevated perch'18 and a horizontal por.-` tion. or 'stepr19.The"angle ofY the perch 18 a isifintended tomatchthe slope of the hut li,-

'the particular@ purposel being :to 1 enableV able'Withga-detent 4410i 'ashank 45 V'which is thrusting the'v perch 18 v'against theV side'lxof the. hut and :thus materially .nigment A)the f vfirmholding qlality ofthe pinning arrange-YI ment. practice it is'possible Vtoinalre the ,perch 18adjustablelso.. that various Y inclina I VKcommodated.v i

' tions Goff Vhuts fand 'river banks mayVV 'bei ac-l the base 11 along -the Y medial as being elevated' in respect to its horizontal portion 19, it even being Within thepresent contemplation to make ftheperch V18 perfectly upright in respect toy its base.V Furthermore, taking the trap as shown, the effect of `adjustment of the perch-18 Willrbehad by thrusting the stake 2 and-'ends 8 .into a support in such a direction that the perch Will stand in the required position.Y For instance,

' lshould"it"be desired tofmount theY trap `on 'a substantially vertical river banl'rthe stake c 2 and ends 8 `will be'thrustl into the "bank *inianupivard direction, disposing `the perch 18 substantiallygupright..

The purposeii making the member 18 `ot Vnetvorlrvnor other reticul'ated material is to convertsaidmemberinto an elevated perch, so yto speak. v This partiothetrapvvill be out ofi the Waterand inasmuch vasjthe animal will be conned adjacent to it the'provision of networlgaffords something'i'or it to 'cling to.

22.` These are coiled-1 about the 4pinslland have the other endsf23'(Fig; .soconnect-- ed with thefhood rameiO as tQsWingthe latter overto the closed positionjyvhenaatrigf v il of ai metai strap 29that'isrivetedftoa'bridge SO-ezrtefnding from'lthe medial barlto-the front bar 310i ythe stepll9.` A.1notch-32 (Fig. inthe lug Y2,6 receives vthe point of the triggerY 24, and as long as `the trigger `remains in thisnotchthe trap remains set.V f

votedat 33 to an .upvvardlyl The. trigger vrisV p` bentrear end of the strap 29.

.A metal loop 35 (Figsml and't),.secured in an ,outstanding positionupon vthe medial bar 15 deiines'an opening 36 Zu, nobstructedby the Wire netting VV17 inawhich abent finger 37 (Figa) of oneor"'pairoflock'rods 38,

39 is movableV to .assume sri-holding` down position; under' the trigger 2liVv (Figs'l, 8,

and 9), i

These'loclr rods are ournal'ed'at the front ii-S in brackets 40, 41 secnredto the front' of the i U-bar `5, andat Vtherear in braachete-42, se-

'r cured to; the cross bar?. nifaddition' tothe 'V-belnt inger '37 the rod 38 has arhookf, this being .located at thefront (Figs. 1,4and 6).

This'hoolris'cnrved (Fig. 7.). It is engageslidable vin a bearing 46.VV The bearing is formedv by curling `the front end-of )the stalel2. -Thefpurposexofthe detent isto hold V the :hood 'frame 10 down When the trap is inthe n set position (Fig-1). y"Itis then the,e,ng'ag'e1` ment of kthe hook 48 over-"the iiletentand,"in

spaced a slight distance as at 49 (Fig. 9) be low Vthe medial bar15. The front end of thelock bar 39 is converted into a crank 50 (Figs. 4 and 6) by which the detent h'ook'47 is conveniently turned toward'the left (facjing Athe front of the trap)v to engage and catch thetongue 48 and temporarily hold the trap structure 9 whenpressed'down to theset positionin reference to thesub-base 1. m It is by means of4 the detent hook 47 that j the trap structure 9 is held down in these position. l i

The depressed and elevated positions of the trap structure 9 imply movements of Mwhich the trap 9 is capableV relative to the 'jrsub-bas'e 1 according to the instant showing.

There may be cases in which such relative movements are neither desired norprovided for, in which event the trap structure' 9 would be directly pinned to a support ,rather thanv through the medium of the sub-base 1.v

A pairof shafts 51, Y52 (Figsf4 and 5) is journaled upon the U-bar of the sub-base 1, Vrbrackets 53 being extended from the 4front Mofthe U-bar v5 to avoid the,l rounded corners "54' of the latter and to provide the supports for the front bar 51. These bars are formed to provide pairs ofv rocker arms 55,156, the

extremities'of which are bent to provideV pin-` Mtles 57 (Figs. 4 and 5) which are received by lfbearingstraps 58 on the nether side -of the horizontal step 19.V f i `This arrangement of the shaftsr51, 52 and rocker arms 55, 56 makes possible thefree up and down swinging` of the trap structure 9 arrangement producing a Vparallel motion which is designed to keep the step 19 parallel i with the sub-base. Chains 59, secured tothe f cross bar-7 and to the front bar 31.(Fig.-l)

jli'mit the forward and upward motion of the trapxstructure 9 under the influence o f springs 60 (Figs. 4 and 5). 'These springs are coiled about those-portions of theshafts 51, 52 eX- tending beyond thesides of the subebasefl as z fjlillustrated at 61 in the instanceiof' the shaft 51 in Figure 5. The ends 62, 63 of the springs are respectively applied to the rocker'arrns 5,5, 56 .andto stops 64 on the sub-base toen- Hable them to apply ntheir ltension 'tol theelei? io''vation of the trap structure 9 when permitted to do so. Y l 4 VA metal loop 65 (Figs. 1 and 4) similar to themetal loop 35,'is attached to the hood- ,v frame .10 .in order to define ay clear place or 55"opening 66 in the chain'mat 16 iin the regionpof 'jwith reference to the sub-base 1, the'twin` the interlocking elements 43, 44, etc. at the front of the trap. This loop is intended to avoid any possibility of the links of the chain mat becoming entangled so that the closing of the hood would be interfered with.

The operation is readily understood. The trap is set by placing it on a licor or other support with the stake 2 and free ends 8 of the U-bar 5 pointed away from the operator.

The hook 43 and crank 50 of the lock rods 38, 39 are turned to the right as far as they will go. Both hands are now placed on the side edges of the trap structure 9 (Fig. 5) and pushed upon in the downward and backward directions, by which act the arms 55, 56 (Fig. 5) rock until the trap structure 9 reaches the sub-base 1. The position thus arrived at is illustrated in Figure 1.

i Now turn the crank 50 to the left. This y causes the detent hook 47 to engage the tongue 35, 48 (Figs. 8 and 9). The shank 45 is next shoved over to the left as far as it will go (dotted lines Fig. 6) so that it comes to rest over the crank 50. This temporarily holds the crank down and the lock rod 39 in vposition so that the trap structure 9 cannot again swing upwardly which the tension of the springs60 (Fig. 5) tends to cause it to do. `The detent 44 must be turned vertically in order to pass through the opening 66 (Fig. 4)* fwhen the hood frame 10 is swung toward the set position. Since the trap structure 9 is nowvproperly although temporarily fastened down to the sub-base 1, the operator takes hold of the hood frame 10 and swings it over toward him about three-fourths of the way and holds it there with one hand while hey picks up the chain mat or other flexible cover in the center with the other hand thus pulling it yup'from the ends so that it will not bind between the frame 10 and the sub-base 1.

Having done this the frame 10 is pushed all the waydown. The detent 44 is now turned over the front bar of the movable frame 10 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) Vat the same time' sliding the shank 45 to the right. The crank 50 is now released by the left end of the shank 45 but the front bar of the frame 10 acts in its stead to preventthe rising of the trap structure 9 by force of the springs 60 (Fig. 5). The shifting of the shank 45 to the right is a requisite which is purposely incorporated in the trap.

If the setting of the trap ended with sliding the shank 45 to the left into engagement with the crank 50 there isa possibility that the shank 45 might be forgotten, hence the t e mporary holding quality that it is intended to have would be converted into a permanent holding quality which would prevent the springing of the trap.

But by sliding the shank 45 to the right, as stated, there is no chance of forgetting to complete the. setting of the trap because ifthe detent 44 were` not then held down the .130

Y Yframe 1,0 1Would -y-up. Having-gotten the Y f its drowning.

Y' 5@antagonisticto them.,

y Vdetentgll into vthe position in Figures l and-.6 tli'e bent'nger'' (F ig. t) iskuseclv asa lever to -turn the lock rodj88 to the left and force il (Figs. l and 6).-

The next act is to bringthetriggerQ4 forward over the bent linger 37 (1F ig. l) 1and .to engage the reeeXtremity of it Withthe notch 32 ofthe pan 25. Thetrapis n'oW intheset position.r v 1 f .Y

VvBy.carefullytaking hold of thetrap-.it can be-putin place beside themuslr'rathutlzfby simply pushing the stake 2` into fthe lpile. l5 The flexible cover- 16 must be gathered in both-hands, beginning at lthe outer v edge, and

' foldedor frolled'together in such'a Way around the outsides of'trap base portion l9-that'it Willlbe as far away as possible from the-'tread i pa11f25- Since the flexible `cover andi the lfaoloin; `ing partsof theltrap structure 9areunder Waterif(F ig. 3). it ollovvsthat the tread'pan v '25,Will occupy a'position directlyin the line Y @fof travel?'ofthemuslnatsy These''usually swim aroundthe hutl, and upon swimming. into'the traprcomeinfcontact with the tread pan only torelease the trigger '24 and cause the lspringing ofithetrap. vThe lirst actis V39fsnapping`over ofthe hoodinto the closed 1 :position (Figs. 4 andy 5). This occurs by .force of the springs 22.* The next-act isthebodily raising of the trap structure 9 -out oiy 5th'elWater.andaway from the hutft-. This'- i' ff'o'ccurs'by force ofthesprings 60 and rocker.

" arms 5 5-, 56 .(Fig .^5). lhe'aninalviscaught` Withoutfinjury and there is nopossibiilitylof..

:Inconclusion itis desired'to elaborate'on i "othe usefulness and otherqualities ofthe" trap. First of fall, it is humane'trap. Much is.

" being done and said at the' presenttimeaboutl humane traps. The instant"y trap,fuliills' all Y of Vthe requirements inasmuch as the Vcapturedanimal does not receivevk any injury uffa-ny `l ind,"and lbeing entirely encompassed vvith the' chain mat are" defendedffrm hurting'V` Lthemselvcszby fighting vafter being caught as Welles protected'from other animals thatarefl VV.The-"practice of muslrrat breedersisitb exf v changethe male rats-'from:seasonlto-season f f in order to guard against inbreeding. 1 :This makes itim'p'erative to'catch the animals'alive and unhurt iforvery often'unwanted animals Will ,bei. trappedand' it injured 'in doingso ivill'fresult'ina Wholly unwarranted destruc.

tionpl' lclosedlseason Vthey arefreadily! liberatedr since Q??byusef ofthi'strap' they: arefcauglitsalive;

the hooker-3 down on the endof theldetent V ly to the setting ofthe trap ,in-Water.y .Everyyagspring" pressed trap.A structure arranged"V t'o other direction. Y fthe trapis set on land, that'vvouldnotjb'e the case.

ncasesfwhere' the trap: is set f onfland everything would have to be concealed,v and.

rather than have theperchlinclinedat an angle vit 'Would have ito be made j level. With thezgroundI Y The tread panV as Well as other Y parts .Wouldfbe covered V Withfdirt5. grass or 95 Y Whilethe construction andarrangernentof the' improved muskrat trap thatfof a generally preferred form, obviously modifica-, tions and changes maybe made Withoutde-- parting from the spirit ofthe invention or the-scopeof theclaims. 'Y

l. a' trap7 a` sub-base having' ajstake to be thrust1into Va support and means spaced 95 from thestake'to engage thejsupport and stabilizethetrapf 2. A trap comprising a subbase arranged to he fixed, a springpressed trap structure arranged to be moved against the tension of its"10l spring'to asetposition upon thejsub-base,a f lock rod carried bythe sublbas'eandmeans on` apartofthe locky rod and on the trap' strucf l turjefto be mutually? engaged When 'fthe trap structure 'assumes the set positiomla-nd-means.105

on the sub-:base to thenv engage-f another partV offthej lock rod to gagement. z f Vf3. -In a-trap,` asubLbase arranged tobe fixed, ,no

maintain Vsaid mutual enlOe-I'nOVed,y against the ltensionof its-spring to-asetpofsition upon the sub-base, alock rod carried bythe subfbase lavinga detent hook at One 'end yandil af crank atithe otherg*A a' .tongue by the-'detenthoolr vvhen inthe set .positionl on turning the fiera-nk in VVone directiomgfand a shank carriedfl by* theJ sub-base" being;V engagef ablevvithjthez cranktoprevent turningin': the 120 Inatrap, asublba'se arrangedfto belixed, afspring .pressed trap :structure for vassuming a setipositi'on'I upon the. sub-base against. the

' tension f' its"sprin'g,` saidtrapf-structure includ'ing" 'a 1 spring pressedmovable hood and '12.5 and a tread. pan, a coacting trigger arrange-` ment,'=and means; on .thesub-base Inova-ble into onefposition'to'cause thetiig'gerarrangement toftemporarily holdzthetrapl structurein the f Vset 1 position.l on the subfbaseipriorfto Opening .13

f the hood, then into a second position to cause said trigger arrangement to hold the hood open.

5. A trap comprising a trapbase having a bend therein to dispose one part at an angle to the other part and enable fitting the trap close up to the line of travel of an animal, a covering hood hinged to said base so as to move over said angled part into a covering position, and trigger means to hold said hood open, including al releasing tread pan situated in approximate line with the bend and in the natural line of travel of the animal.

6. A trap comprising a base, means to secure the base to a support in a position of projection of a portion thereof out of a body of water to act as an elevated perch, a covering hood, and triggermeans to temporarily hold the covering hood down next to the water in an open position, said means including a tread pan located near the support substantially at water level.

7. A trap comprising a base, meansto dispose the base next to a support in a position of projection out of a body of water to act as an elevated perch, a covering hood, a hinge arrangement located substantially at water level and movably connecting the covering hood to the first-named base, and trigger means to temporarily hold thecovering hood down next to the water in an open position, said means including a tread pan in approxiymate line with the hinge arrangement.

8. A trap comprising a base, means to dis! pose the base on an incline to act as an elevated perch, a covering hood, a hinge arrangement movably connecting the covering hood to the bottom of the first-named base, trigger means to temporarily hold the covering hood horizontally open substantially at water lever, and a tread pan operable to release the trigger means being located above the covering hood and near the base of the fixed base.

9. A trap comprising mounting means, a reticulated base portion disposed on an incline to said mounting means and extending to an elevation thereabove, said portion constituting an elevated perch, a covering hood, means by which the covering hood is hingedlv mounted at the approximate base of the reticulated portion being' movable upwardly toward and against "thev reticulated portion and over an animal perched thereon, a trigger arrangement for holding the movable hood in an open position, and a tread pan for releasing the trigger arrangement also being located at the base of the reticulated portion.

10. A trap comprising a member of meshed material consisting of base and perch portions disposed at angles to each other, mounting means in reference to which said base portion assumes a substantially horizontal position and in reference to which the perch portion stands on an upward inclination to constitute an elevated perch, a movable hood frame hinged substantially along the dividing line between the base and perch portions of said member, a lexible cover attached to the movable hood frame and base portion, being foldable substantially around the outsides of the base portion when the movable hood trame is set and covering parts of both the base and perch portions when the hood frame is closed, a trigger arrangement for holding the hood frame open, and a tread pan for releasing the ICIS 

